Johannesen will serve in the position for the next year. It was the only contested race on the town ballot.

Residents also rejected a citizens petition warrant article submitted by Cooper and fellow selectmen that would eliminate the ACO position next year. Three hundred ninety-two cast ballots against eliminating the post, with just 255 supporting it.

Johannesen served as animal control officer for seven years until selectmen eliminated the position in 2011. She called it an act of vengeance.

Selectmen’s Chairman Shawn O’Neil, who often clashed with Johannesen over the animal control budget, said eliminating the job saved the town thousands of dollars.

O’Neil said the animal control budget has dropped from about $12,000 when Johannesen held the position to about $4,500 this year.

Danville began contracting with Plaistow for animal control services and Johannesen became Hampstead’s animal control officer.

But the race has been bitter from the start.

Johannesen accused Cooper, a former assistant animal control officer, of opposing the elected position because she served citations to her a couple of times when Cooper’s dogs ran loose.

“She’s running, but she’s the one who put in on the ballot to get rid of it,” Johannesen said during the campaign. “Why would one who wanted to get rid of the position be the one running for it?”

She also said Cooper has a conflict of interest because she works for the police department. But Cooper denied having a conflict and said her decision to run was not a personal attack against Johannesen.

Last year, Johannesen launched a citizen petition that called for the position’s reinstatement. Residents voted, 418-263, in March 2012 to restore the part-time job.

Johannesen said if Danville doesn’t have its own animal control officer, it would miss out on thousands of dollars in dog licensing fees and fines that she used to collect.

In uncontested races, the following candidates were elected: Annemarie Inman, selectman for three years; Jeff Steenson and Thomas Billbrough Sr., three years, Budget Committee; George Manos, one year, Budget Committee; Beth Caillouette, three years, cemetery trustee; John Hughes, three years, fire ward; Robert Sharpe, one year, fire ward; Mark Sullivan, three years, library trustee; Barbara Hughes, one year, library trustee; Barry Hantman, two years, moderator; Barry Hantman, three years, Planning Board; Betsy Sanders, three years, treasurer.

There were no candidates on the ballot for two Planning Board seats, supervisor of the checklist and two trustee of trust funds positions.

Residents narrowly approved a $2.8 million operating budget, 341-301, and money for several capital reserve funds. Voters also decided, 348-299, to spend $175,000 for a new ambulance.

By just 17 votes, voters rejected putting $20,000 into the police station capital reserve fund.